Chapter 4
After another "therefore" in verse 1, concluding the previous chapter, Paul turns to greetings to specific people, to commendations, to tidings.
Another verse of encouragement, the other bookend to 1:6:
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Phl 4:6-7 ESV]
And then he goes on to describe the daily effort, attention, and focus of Christian life:
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [Phl 4:8 ESV]
How many sermons....
What a great book to read for encouragement. These people in Philippi were on the right track, doing the things they should, and Paul encouraged them to continue. He gave them instructions for how to deal with every day, normal, boring, life. These were not persecuted daily, they weren't being thrown into prison, they weren't besieged by false teachers and struggling to discern the truth. These were like we are, in this culture, today. We have so much to be thankful for, we have excess to support preachers and teachers at home and abroad, and we have freedom to live our lives as we see fit. As did the Philippians. Perhaps they felt "left out" of the process, as sometimes we do. We aren't persecuted like Christians in the Middle East, in India, in China. We aren't earning huge crowns by our martyrdom, loss of possessions, estrangement from all those around us. Are we doing anything at all for Christ?
Read Philippians. Paul encourages them to hold to the course, to grow, to continue their sanctification. If this is God's plan for us, and he blesses us with the good things, we are to take advantage of this, and focus ever more narrowly on the things that are good.
We always quote vs. 13 as a help in time of trouble. But look at what else came before it:
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [Phl 4:12 ESV]
There is difficulty facing plenty, also. It dulls our skill, our motivation, our fear of God. We must also learn to abound in plenty. Truly a first world problem.